Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) runs after a catch against the New York Jets at EverBank Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Travis Register-Imagn Images
If it were up to Jacksonville Jaguars star wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., he'd rather be in joint practices than preseason games. The former LSU Tigers wideout expressed his preference between joint practices and preseason games, offering a clear distinction from a player's perspective.
“I actually like the joints better than going out there and playing in (a preseason game),” Thomas told reporters (h/t Action Sports Jax).
“I feel like we get more work done in the joints, and I feel like people are actually going out there and giving it everything during the practice.”
To each his own, and Thomas appears to love the organic intensity of a joint practice, which isn't broadcast like preseason games.
In any case, the Jaguars only have one more preseason game left to play before Thomas and company turn their full attention to their 2026 NFL season series opener against the Cleveland Browns.
Jacksonville opened its preseason with a 24-20 win over the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The following week, the Jags suffered a 34-17 loss at the hands of the Carolina Panthers at EverBank Stadium in Florida.
The Jaguars will kick off their 2026 campaign on Sept. 13, when Deshaun Watson and the Browns hit town.
Thomas had a great start to his NFL career in 2024. In fact, he earned a Pro Bowl nod right in his first season in the pros, while racking up 1,282 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on 87 receptions and 133 targets. However, he had a down 2025 campaign because of drop issues and injuries, recording 707 receiving yards and just two touchdowns on 48 catches and 91 targets across 14 games.